Betfair Specialists / 11 July 2010 Free Bet View Market

EAMON DUNPHY

It's not all about scoring goals. It's about winning games and Torres has been woefully out of form and doesn't appear to be fit, so that takes away a pretty potent element in their strikeforce, but they still have David Villa. Spain will always struggle to score prolifically because of the way they play. Their build up play is so slow so it makes it relatively easy for teams to re-group and defend against them in front of goal, because it takes them so long to get there. Barcelona do the same thing, but they have Messi the magician. Spain don't have a Messi but in the end they tend to wear teams down with pure quality of passing and often score in the second half when the opposition begins to tire.
If Robben and Sneijder play well and if Van Persie was able to come into form which he hasn't been in, Holland will more than likely score. It will be a very close and tough game. I think Spain have the ability to outplay Van Bommel and De Jong in midfield with their passing. Holland haven't looked fluid and the back four hasn't really been tested, but it will be now so I do think Spain deserve to be favourites and I think they'll win.
While I have backed Spain since before the World Cup started, I wouldn't be backing them at current prices to win in 90mins. If I was having a single bet, I would back the draw. I think both sides will score.

Bets:
Draw at 3.45
Over 2.5 goals at 2.64

ANDY GRAY

Spain have been everything we expected them to be over the last month: good at the back, excellent at keeping possession and deadly going forward. The Netherlands have been almost the opposite of what most fans would have expected from them. Sure, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder have provided the odd moment of genius but for the most part this has been a functional and disciplined team rather than a spectacular one.

It's worth pointing out that both these teams have ridden their luck in getting this far. David Villa's goal against Portugal was shown to be offside by a few centimetres and Iker Casillas kept out a penalty against Paraguay with the scores level at the time; the Netherlands benefited from an own goal in the quarters against Brazil and had an offside decision of their own go their way in the semi against Uruguay. Both sides are worthy finalists but neither has been head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

The key to this game will be how well the Netherlands defend. That's the back five plus Nigel De Jong and Mark Van Bommel. For large periods of the game Spain will keep the ball and their opponents won't see any of it; that's been the story of most of Spain's games so far. I've said Vicente Del Bosque's men are good at the back but they're vulnerable on the break as we saw when both Portugal and Paraguay had a go at them so Netherland's best chance of scoring may be to try and get the ball to Robben and ask him to run at an exposed defence.

We haven't seen too many great World Cup finals over the last couple of decades and whereas I'm not holding out for a cliffhanger, I expect this to be an entertaining match and one I think Spain ultimately will win by the odd goal. It's been another great tournament for that man David Villa and I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one coming up with the winner.

Recommended Bets:
Back Spain to win 2-1 at [11.5]
Back David Villa to score at [2.5]

VASILY UTKIN

For me it is the most difficult to make the prediction for the final match. It is good to make the prediction with cold mind. But now I Support Spain too much.

Netherlands doesn't seem as the keeper of traditions, because this team doesn't look like previous selections. Now Netherlands is not defensive team. I think that Netherlands is now team with mentally strength at first. Mentality is the key point for this team and it's not surprising that it has the real leaders - I mean mentality the most of all. I mean Sneijder at first.

Spain goes as a favourite team. It has been the best team in the world for recent 3-4 years, it re-wrote several records, and it plays in perfect style, which opponents specially prepare for. They are favourite, so they are vulnerable. But the tournament showes that Spain can play carefully now and have a deal with nerves. I really think that they will win.

As for best goalscorer, I guees, Miroslav Klose will be the best, also I don't count out Sneijder and Villa. I think Sneijder and Villa will not score in the final, and in the game for bronze Klose, who will be supermotivated and willing to equal the best goalscorers in the history, will have easier task.

MARCEL MERCIAK

A new world cup winner shall arise as the 8th country will join the champions of the past: Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France. And who would be more deserving? A team which hasn't lost in 25 matches in a row since September 2008 and has not lost a single point at the World Cup finals? (The Dutch.) Or a team, who are the reigning champions of Europe and won 48 out of 53 matches since the beginning of 2007? (Spain.)

Neither of them has fulfilled the pre-world cup expectations. Both Holland and Spain have, however, gone beyond the endless years of frustration, when great football, full of risk and offensive power, together with a few unfortunate moments brought them only pain and tears of disappointment.

David Villa and Wesley Sneijder will compete for the golden boot, but the final can easily be decided by any of the following players: Torres, Pedro, Puyol, Sergio Ramos, or van Persie, Kuyt, van Bommel, and perhaps Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who will end his career there and there.

I personally think that when picking a world cup winner out of these two, you have to rely on your gut feeling. And my feeling is that Spain will win and Netherlands will miss yet another chance. I have admired and followed the Dutch since the times of Van Basten and Ruud Gullit and they were my favourite European team for two decades. But furia roja plays the better football now.

Recommended bets:
Back Spain to win @ 2.18
HT/FT - Draw/Spain @ 5.3
Back Spain to keep a clean sheet @ 2.38

MALDINI

La Roja got back to their best performances in the semifinal against Germany: they played a quick game with a speed that allowed them to keep losing their markers. The Netherlands, even if I consider they are getting results abover their current level, is a well structured team that knows how to get to the midfield, and that has two excellent players: Robben y Sneijder. On the other hand, they are not very strong in their midfield and defense, and here is where Spain is going to inflict more damage. The Dutch have abandoned the explosive game and spectacular staging that they used to have years ago, but it's a hard working team with men Kuyt: hasn't shine as scorer, but worked as hard as anyone else.
I think Spain will win the match, and won't need the extra time. David Villa is also fighting to become the World Cup top scorer and I don't think the Dutch will be able to stop him the way the Germans did.
Some say the next Golden Ball will be decided here. If Netherlands win, Sneijder will be the next Golden Ball: he might not be the best player in the world, but has won everything with Inter and only the World Cup is missing. If Spain wins, I think Xavi Hernandez deserves it.

Recommended bets:
Back Spain @ 2.18
Back Villa to Score @ 2.36

ANDERS BAY

My heart says Spain, but my brain tells me Holland. Romance against cynics. Spanish ballcontrol contra tactical discipline from Holland.
Spain hasnt been as great as in the Euro 2008 but I think they will win. It would be the right winner of the World Cup 2010. We have to give Holland some credit for being in the finale, but still we havent seen a lot of total-soccer.
Spain needs to be in control cause if not, it will be dangerous play-date against the Dutch players that have shown a lot of character and determination, when the opponents have exposed themselves.
Bet: Spain to win at odds 2.18

JONAS DAHLQUIST

Holland vs Spain will probably be built up like the battle between this tournaments super stars Wesley Sneijder and David Villa. As I see it, it will be a game between Mark van Bommel and Carles Puyol. Two players that could give their right arm to win this. I am really looking forward to seeing them in play in a game of this caliber. The expression "to play with your heart on your sleeve" will suit these two guys tremendously. As for the game - Spain will probably control the game and have most of the possession, but when the opposition has got players like Sneijder, van Persie, Kuyt and Robben, things can always happen. My hope is that there will be an early goal, and that Spain will score it. That would open the game up. If it's goalless for the first 30-35 minutes, both teams are going to start becoming scared. I think Spain play a better and more entertaining football than the dutch, so for that reason and that reason only - I go for Spain. Torres scores the game winning goal.

Bets
Spain to win @ 2.18